Underrated Sydney location you need to visit

It is probably one of the most underrated suburbs in New South Wales, but this thriving location has more to offer than you may think.

Penrith is probably one of the most underrated suburbs in New South Wales, but this thriving location has more to offer than you may think.

The Western Sydney suburb is known as the gateway to the Blue Mountains and if you’re seeking a little getaway, perhaps away from the hustle and bustle of inner-Sydney, 48 hours in Penrith is all you need.

It may not be your obvious first choice, but my recent stay at the newly revamped $110 million Pullman hotel was a pleasant surprise. And it also happens to be super close to a bunch of local activities.

It opened its doors in August 2023, making its debut as the first five-star hotel and conference centre in the area.

The Pullman Sydney Penrith opened its doors in August 2023, making its debut as the first five-star hotel and conference centre in western Sydney.

You can take train from Central or drive, with Accor property less than 50 minutes from the CBD.

Either way, you can sit back and relax as both options tend to be moving against the traffic and congestion the further out west you go.

The moment you step foot into The Pullman you’re immediately drawn to its stunning and spacious lobby, which incorporates a swank Tori Bar and cafe lounge.

The $110 million hotel was five years in the making.

The sweeping central staircase takes you all the way to the Marcel Bar and Bistro on level one where you can enjoy a special Tasting Menu featuring local produce.

Dinner here was a treat, with an extensive menu enhanced by some much-appreciated wine selections.

For the main dish I opted for the lamb shoulder, chamomile, spec and brussels sprout – and for desert it was the mouth-watering Halva cake with chocolate ganache.

The food at the hotel is super tasty.

After wining and dining, it was time to relax in the Pullman’s oversized, apartment-style rooms that offer fine views of the surrounding tree tops.

There is also a convenient area with a desk and wif-fi, if you really have to work.

The smart TV complements the king-size bed in a curvaceous studio layout.

Guests can access a “sleep therapy menu” on their in-room tablet, allowing for customised hotel services such as pillows, sprays and face masks, as well as food and drink room service.

The spacious bathroom featured a premium natural skincare range, pleasantly made in Australia and just the tonic after a workout in the gym and sauna session.

Any workouts are offset at breakfast, where the buffet ticked all the boxes.

There’s 153 rooms with the cheapest starting from $300.

You can pick what you want from the in-room tablet and it includes face and eye masks to aromatherapy, soothing teas.

Things to do

You can’t visit Penrith and not be impressed by the area’s love of their high-flying rugby league team, which has won three straight NRL premierships.

All the action takes place at nearby BlueBet Stadium, which packs out on game days.

There’s plenty to do in the area too. This is The Blue Bet stadium, an excellent ground to watch rugby league.

But there’s more to Panther country than a footy team. The popular Blue Mountains are literally up the hill, with majestic views of the Megalong Valley and historic tourist villages such as Katoomba, Leura and Blackheath.

Uncle David, an Indigenous tour guide from Scenic World, shared traditional stories and connections to Country.

Katoomba is the home of Scenic World, where an interactive tour takes around 120 minutes and includes the Scenic Railway, Cableway, Skyway and the 10-minute rainforest boardwalk.

Along the way, Uncle David, an Indigenous tour guide from Scenic World, shared traditional stories and connections to Country.

For those that feel like a lift, you have to visit iFly

This iFly experience was pretty cool.

And this is Penrith beach aka ‘Pondi’ – a take on the famous Bondi Beach.

Literally across the road from the Pullman is the exhilarating experience of soaring like a bird for all the adrenaline junkies. iFly is in a safe and controlled environment where a massive turbine allows you to fly and feel like you’re swimming on air.

One of the more unlikely attractions in Penrith is the newly-opened Penrith Beach, nicknamed ‘Pondi”, a take on the more famous Bondi.

It’s only a 12 minute drive from the Pullman Precinct, with real sand and calm waters and is great for all ages.

Pullman Sydney Penrith has 153 rooms, starting at $300 per night.

Dane was a guest of the Pullman Sydney Penrith